Hi there,
Only had my car a week but I’ve notice it has developed (or already had) a problem.
The car will sometimes almost cut out under accelleration, and this typically happens higher up the rev range e.g. when accellerating hard in 2nd or 3rd gear. It is not a simple missfire - I mean this feels quite on/off in terms of power delivery, as if I had just stepped off the throttle completely. It feels quite similar to how a car would cut the ignition or cut the fuel, when you hit the rev-limiter - except that this problem can also occur when accellerating at only around 3k rpm so I know it is nothing to do with the rev limiter.
If I hold the throttle flat down, the flat spot/cut will clear after about a second but maybe appears again a few seconds later. It really does feel as if I am constantly lifting my foot completely off the accellerator and then back on it.
Any ideas?
The plugs were replaced earlier this year, the HT leads done last year. Today I’ve checked and re-gapped the plugs (1.1mm) and removed and re-fitted the leads and they look pretty good. Also timed it up today, was running about 11 degrees advance and I’ve timed it to 14 degrees. None of this has helped with my problem.
No errors are being reported via the diagnostic port (using LED accross the pins method).
Fuel filter seems next obvious thing to check, but hope someone can guide me if you have any other suggestions.
Cheers,
Steve
Fuel filter would be the cheapest and next replacement I guess.
Sticky valve/s? Maybe worth doing and oil change doing an engine flush.
Would a faulty MAF throw a code…?
A friend had a fault on an old golf years ago where i would cut out when driving then restart and drive fine again. He replaced loads of bits until as a last resort he drained the fuel tank off the car and found a leaf in it which was getting stuck over the pick up, causing cut out then dropping away once the engine had cut!
Check the Ignition Coil. If it’s on it’s way out this will give the cut out symptoms that you have without any warning or regularity.
Thanks for your feedback. I’ve replaced the fuel filter now and run some injector cleaner through it too, and still no good.
Is there any way to test the ignition coils without just swapping them out for a new set? Not keen on expense of buying an ignition coil if it doesn’t solve the problem.
I am thinking this could be a fuel supply/pressure problem? Any way to test the fuel pump / fuel pressure?
Hi Steve,
Don’t know if it can be checked off the car. I suspect not & they are pricey. I found mine was dodgy when it was plugged into a diagnostic machine which showed the voltage fluctuation from the coil. The big problem was however, that it was totally sporadic. One minute was fine & the next would just die at the lights with no warning. Very embarrasing!!!. Again, if the fault doesn’t occur whislt the car is on the diagnostic it might not register. If you’ve tried all else & it still isn’t right then the coils about the only thing left I think?
It could be the HT leads, but sounds like the ignition coil is heating up and shorting out internally.
To test fuel pressure you’d need to buy a fuel pressure gauge and plumb it in.
Any way you could borrow a coil from a friend or perhaps take a chance on a £30 second hand one on ebay?